Bashkir folk physical culture has been developing for many centuries. Its basis has always been and remains traditional national sports and games. Sabantuy is usually opened with the wrestling kuresh. And only after that competitions in running and then in horse racing start. For residents of Bashkortostan kuresh is the favourite, popular and mass sport. Over 20 thousand people go in for kuresh now. It is not included into the Olympic program. However, our famous wrestlers will go to the training session for belt wrestling national team in May. One of them is Yuri Sabanov, who took the first place in the last kuresh wrestling competitions in the weight category above 100 kilograms. BASHvest congratulated the sportsman on the victory and asked him about his preparation for the training session.
       "Yuri, let me congratulate you on the victory. Yet again you competed with Aslyam Hafizov in the final, didn't you?"
       "Thank you. Yes, we meet in the final for 16 years already."
       "Is it your rival of principle now? The series of victories should not be interrupted..."
       "Yes, we are rivals of principal on the mat area, but outside it we are on good terms."
       "The World Belt Wrestling Championship is coming soon. Have you received the summons to the training session? Do you already feel the weight of responsibility?"
       "It will only be a training session that will take place in Kazan. I hope I will get into the first team. Then I will think about the responsibility."
       "You have already been the champion of the world. Has the competition for the place in the team grown tougher?"
       "Yes, it has. The wrestling develops. New sportsmen appear. I am two- times world champion and three times champion of Europe. And still I am not 100 percent sure that I will get into the first team."
       "So, I wish you success!"
       "Thank you."
       For those who want to go in for wrestling there is a children's and youth sports school of Greco-Roman wrestling and national wrestling kuresh in Ufa. Children aged 10 and older are admitted. The training is given by high- class trainers on a budgetary basis. The school has an equipped gym, locker rooms, shower rooms and a recreation centre. It needs to mention that it is generally men's sport. However, every rule has exceptions. There was only one girl engaged in kuresh wrestling in our republic. This was Railya Vakhitova from Davlekanovo. She wrestled with men and won many times. Now it is purely men's showdown. Ruslan Yusupov, Yunir Ilyasov, Radif Akchurin, Yuri Sabanov are constant winners of the competitions.
       We managed to ask Ruslan Yusupov a few questions.
       "Ruslan, for how long have you been going in for sports?"
       "I started my competitive career with kuresh from the very beginning. I have wrestled since I was 10, and I devoted as many years to this sport. Besides, I am keen on football and volleyball."
       "Does the Ministry of Sports do much for kuresh wrestlers, in your opinion?"
       "Of course, it does. The national wrestling kuresh has been greatly supported especially for the last two or three years."
       "You live in Uchaly. Who is your trainer there?"
       "It is my father. He was engaged in wrestling himself and was the head trainer of the Bashkir kuresh team. He trains me for the principal competitions. Kuresh is sport No.1 for the regions of the republic. It is the national strength competition popular in Bashkortostan from the ancient times. At the same time it is a generally accessible and engrossing sport."
       Photo by Oleg Yarovikov.